Electric lock



NEW 2 lagfifi, W. c2. M WHIRTER 1,782,733

ELECTRIC LOCK Filed Jan. 8, 1930 3' Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: I W. C'MQ Whlrtcr;

ZM F

Nov. 25, 1930. w. (3. M wHmTER ELECTRIC LOCK iNVENTORI Nov. 25, 1930. W. m. MQWFMRTER s fl I ELECTRIC LOCK Filed Jan. 8 19230 3 Sheets-$heet 3 ENVENTOF? 14/- C Ma h irtar i UNITE DfsT ATg g UiNION SWITCH & SIGNAL" COMPANY, TION or PENNSYLVANIA AT T ojF-F cs i i F t fiNivsYIivAnm; nssienonro THE or swrssvnLn rnu vsy vn v COBPORL I 7 ELEGTRICLOGK Application filed January s, 193 0. Serie1 ,N0.-.419,289.i i

My ll'lV-IllilQll relates to electric locks and i particularly locks. for preventingthe funauthorized operation of trafiicfcondevices such switches, derails and thelike. "i i' I f Oneof the objects of my present invention is the provision of an electric lock operating trolling independentlyof the manually operated actuproved features of constructionand operas tionu bodyingmy invention which for the purpose of example; have shown in connection with. a-jrailwziy track switch, and will then point;

out the :novel features thereof in Claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig.'1-is a,

i electric lock" constructed "in accordance with finy invention with the seve endterniin al boa-rd rehioved, Fig. 3fis a view partly in y arm 23,01? the lever 193s pivotally eonnected' side elevation and partly in vertical section taken online III-+111 of Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line Iv -IV;

of Figl 3, with theelectromagnets endletch "Similar reference chiiractersrefer to similar parts in each ofthe severalviews.

WReferring'to the drawings, and particu- 1 may to 1 thereof; an electric switch lock constructed in accordance with my invention and indicetedi in its entiretyin Figlihwhy the numeral1-,i is shown: as heing mounted on; :i tieZ adjacent the movable rzuls 13 of stretchswitch. Thegreils 3 are moved between normail andreversepositions-with respect-to the n z in rails lotthe track by meens of anopen ating rod 5 which is operet velylconnected with i a, switch operating inephzinisni 6, of any preferredftype. @Thils {mechinis'ni is also mounted 1 n the and is actuated [by "a lock ro -8 which is secured at one end toone rockshaftlfi is journeledet one end in e l eari journaled in a hearing 18"formed in adjegi Q4Cout ofengagen ent-vvith thelock rod 8.. f r r 'A leven ffiljisj fixed tothe sheft-lovvithinff "=tl1ectsingandis provided withanlupwerdly l extending-latcharm;28 formed witheppose'd; i .shouldeIS 29 %(Fig. 5) 1 I Sl jQiilders are v adapted tdengage opposite sidesiof elatch H 1 5 later-e1Idisplecementb of the rails 33nd tliefotl'ier whicheX-Y tends into the electric lock and is engaged thereby ins inannernow to'bfeldescrihed.

,Referring now also tojiEigs. 2; 3,;4mid

1 the electric lock l isshown as comprising e 5 7i casing" forrned wi'th a lower p ortion9 andan" upper portion or cover' 10,which is hinged to the-lower portion, asst-11:, and which may I ating mechanism forthe traflic governing de- 7 vice, and embodying ,VELllOUS novel'fiand j nn? be lockedin a closed position. by a suitable fastening device 12. Ahousing lil is secured to onefof'the side wallsof the lower portion 9 o I o ofthe casing and isformed'withlaguideweyf I Willdescrihe one form of electricloclreme ltfinlwhich the lock rods is mounted for] slldingmovement. A horizontally extending ing I6 forined on efweb orbrecket lTwhich isecarriedbyfelsidefivallofthe lower f portion 9 of the casing, end} the other end thereof extends into I the housing l3 and" is cent sidewall. )AQ footoperated leverlQ is fixedintermediate its ends to; one end of the i i b 5 it l l e r th reofoe i ei d ,fih ugli an opening 21; (Fig; the housing 13 and i i is formed with a pedal'portioh 22. The other withthe upperendofalocking dogQ lwhich V is mounted fo vertical sliding movement in "a guidewey 25 formed in the housing 13 for j engagement withfn notclf;- or opening 26 formed in the-switch loci; rod 8; NVhen the outer end of: thelever 1 9ds; depressed thef foot of the operetonto the position indieeted bybrokenllines in Fig. 3,. the inner arm 23;" will swingnpwei'dly and liftfithelocking dog 30 whieh is cerriedvby' e vertically swinging} rm 31 tad: W 'chfli's mainei e i insw a slotted guide rrrefnacentj side win of the 33 whichfis pivotally mounted onflbrack t 34 provided withfe tfgii for engagement as l casing! The erniy31 is"fi edto an armature a pair of electromagnets 36 which, when energized, as will presently be described, cause the armature 33 to swing the arm 31 and latch 30 upwardly and out of engage ment with the shoulders 29, thereby perm1t ting the shaft 15 to be rocked about its ax s by depressing the pedal 22. A weight 31 1s mounted on the arm 31 for longitudinal adjustment and augments the weight of the arm so as to insure that it will drop under the action of gravity and carry the latch 30 between the shoulders 29 when the magnets 36 are de-energized so as to lock the'shaft 15 against rotation.

The energization of the magnets36 1s controlled by a contact devicecomprising a contact tip 38 and a cooperating spring contact finger 39 which are carried by a terminal board 37 which is also mounted onthe bracket 34. The finger 39 is moved into andout of engagement with the contact 38 by an arm 40 which is attached at one end to an insulating block 41 carried by the finger. The other end ofthe arm 40 is slotted for engagement with a spool-shaped member 42 which is fixed to a lever 43. Th1slever is pivotally mounted at one end to abracket 43 secured to the under surface of the terminal board 37, andis formed at its other end, with a cam portion 44 for engagement with a cam surface 45 providedon an-arcuate cam 46 carried by the latch arm 28. hen the shaft 15 is rocked in a clockwise direc tion, as viewed in Fig. 5, the cam surface 45 of the arm 46 engages the cam portion 44-of the lever 43 and lifts this lever and the arm 40 sufliciently to carry the spring finger 39 into engagement with its contact 38, thus establishing a circuit through the windings of the magnets 36 and causing the energization thereof.

Thelever 27 is also formed with a depending. bifurcated arm 47 which is pivotally connected with one end of a plunger 48. This plunger extends through an opening 49 in a barrel 50 securedtothe side wall of the casing,- and througlra bore 51 in the side wall. The plunger 48. is formed with a reduced central portion 52 forming a pan of spaced shoulders 53 and 54 and carries a pair of slidable members preferably in the form of washers 55 and 56. A compression spring 57'. surrounds the reduced portion 52 intermediate the washers 55 and 56' and, when the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig.

' 5, tends to maintain the washer 55 in engagement with the shoulder 53 and the washer 56 in contact with the end of the barrel. 50 which latter forms anabutment forlimiting the movement of the washer 56. It will be noted at this point that, when the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 5, the washer 55 is spaced a slightdistance frormthe s1de wall of the casing, which also constitutes an abutmentfor the washer 55, and the washer 56 is spaced a like distance from the shoulder 54 on the plunger 48. The purpose of this spacing will be described hereinafter. The spring 57 is maintained under compression in this position by a lever in the form of a cover 58 which is hinged to the exterior of the side wall as at 59 and is formed with a lug 60 for engagement with the end of the plunger 48. This cover is releasably secured in the position illustrated by a padlock 61 which may be inserted in an eye 62 for engagement. with a hasp 63 provided on the cover. The plunger 48 is also formed with a circumferential groove 64 for engagement bya lip 65 formed on a detent 66. This detent is mounted on the outer surface of the wall of the casing for vertical sliding movement and is maintained against displacement by a pin 67 which extends through an elongated aperture 68 formed in the upper portion of the detent. The detent is also formed with an aperture 69 through which the plunger 48 is adapted to project and with a projection70 for engagement by a cam 71 formed. on the cover 58. The detent is urged downwardly by means of a spring 72 which is'mounted in a recess 73 formed in the detent and whichbears upwardly against the pin 67. i

The electromagnets 36 are connected in series and are energized from. any suitable source such as a local. battery 76. Current from this battery traverses a circuit from one terminal thereof, through a contact device 77, windings of magnets 36, a terminal post 78 carried by terminal board 37, contact arm 39, contact tip 38, a terminal post 79 also carried by terminal board 37' and back to the other terminal of battery 76. The contact device 77 may be of any preferred type such, for example, as the front contact of a track relay which is energized when the track section including the switch shown in Fig. 1 is unoccupied. With such an arrangement the contact device 77 is normally closed but will open in the usual manner when a train enters the section and thereby prevent the energization of the magnets 36 and the operation of the lock mechanism.

Under certain conditions it is desirable to visually indicate the condition of the lock and to'this end'I provide a contact device comprising a contact arm 80 which is preferably mounted on the armature 33 for engagement with a contact tip 81 connected with a terminal 82 carriedby the terminal board 37. This contact device may be employed to control a suitable indication circuit, not shown .but which is well known in the art. As shown in the'drawing, the contact device 80-81 is .normally closed but will open when the magnets 36 are energized to operate the lock. It will be understood, however, that this contact may be arranged so that the necessary indications may be obtained witha normally open circuit if so desired.

a A contact tip 84 is also provided for engagement :bythe contact arm 39 when the magnets 36 are de-energized. This contact tip is connectedv with a terminal post 85 can ried by the board 37, and may be employed. for other purposes necessitating a normally closed circuit.

Considering the parts in the positions shown by full lines in the drawings, inwhich the switch rails 3 are locked in their normal 7 position, the operation of my improved else tric switch lock is as follows;

If it is desired to move the sw1tchrails3-to the reverse position, the .trainman first removes the padlock 61 from the eye 62, therebyxpermitting thespring 57 to expand llllilll the washer 55 engages the side wall ofthe casing. This action of the spring 57 forces the rod 48 to the left as viewed in Flg. 5,

and not only positively opens the cover 58 but rocks the lever 28 and shaft in a clockwise direction sufficiently to carry the cam. surface of the arm 46 beneath the lug l l tact tip 38,, thereby completing an electric circuit which 'energizes the velectromagnets 86. The energizationofthese magnets at tracts the armature 33, and swings the arm 31 upwardly and the latch 80 carried thereby iment with the out of engagement with the shoulders 29 of the latch arm 28; The above described move I ments occur practically instantaneously following the release of the cover 58.. The train man then depresses the pedal 22, thereby swinging the arm23 of the lever 19 upwardly and lifting the dog 24 from locking engage-V recess 26 in the swltch lock rod 8. i V v l i The depression-of the pedal 22 in the manner describedalso rocks the shaft 15 ina clockwisedirection, as-viewed in Fig. 5,and causes the arm 47 of the lever 27 to forcethe plungerZlS to the leftagainst the action of the spring 57'through the engagement of the shoulder 54lwith the washer, 56. Th s movement continues until the locking dog 24 is completely disengaged from the rool'S at which time the groove '64: e in the plunger 48; registers with the lip of the detent 66 v and is engaged thereby under the actionof the spring 72. This locks the mechanism in j i an ineffective position and permits the traina man to actuate the track switch by means of the hand lever 7 [As longasthe pal'bS fOC- cupy these positions it is impossible for the ofthe pedal 22 eiccept'underthe conditions i r 1 0i) switch to be locked in either itsnormalor reverse positions.

When, however, the trainmandesires to lock the switch in its normal position it is only necessary for him toiswing the cover 58 back to as closedposition and to reinsert i the padlock "61 in the eye 62. The cover whenthus moved functions as a lever and first carries the cam 711into engagement with i V the'undersurface ofthe,"projection onthe detent 66 andilifts thedetenti until the 64: in the plunger 48. As soon as plunger 48 i is released by detent 66, spring 57 forcesthe plunger toward the right asviewed in Fig. 5, androcks the levers 27 and 19 in a counterclockwise direction and reinsertsthelocking dog 24; in the notch 26 of the "switch lock rod 8, The final portion of the motion of cover 58 to itsclosjed position causes lug 60 to engage plunger, 48, and returns the plunger lip 65 thereof is disengaged from the groove 7 to 'the positionishown in the drawing thus insuringfthat cam surface l5 on the arin4c6 is movedout of engagement with the lug 44: on the lever 43, and permitting the spring contact finger 39 to move out of engagement with its contact tip 38. i This breaks the circuit through the electromagnets 36 and causes the release of the armature 33, As soon as the armature is released the arm 31 drops and carries thelatch 30 to its locking positionbetween the shoulders 29 on the latch arm 28. This will prevent any subsequent movement hereinbefore described. i a

In describing my invention I have as sumed that the switch is locked in its normal position but it is apparent that i by properly positioning the notches inloclrrod 8, the

device may be arranged to lock the switch in the IGVGISQPGSltlOIl, or, 111 either the normal or the reverse position; a

6 Although I have herein shown i -and dei scribed only one 'form'of electric lock em bodylng my inventlon, it is understood that various changes and modificationsmayz. be

made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing fromthe .splrit and" scope of my invention. j

Having thus described my, invention, Iolaim 1s:

what

.LIA locking device a y for railway trafiic V 'controlllng-apparatus comprising a locking dog, 'yieldable means for maintaining said dog n looking engagement with a member movable withfsaid apparatus, manually operable means for moving said dog out often"- ,gagement with saidmemberagainstthe ac-j 4 r tion ofsaid yieldable means, a-latch for can;

trolling the operation ofsaid'manually operable means, electromagnetic means for ac-; tuatingfsaid latch to release said manually operable means, means actuated by said yieldable means for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic insane-and manually operable means for rennering said yieldable means ineffective.

2. In combination, a rod movable by a rail way traiiic controlling apparatus, a dog for locking said rod against movement, yieldable IGZIHS for maintaining said dog in looking engagement with said rod, manually operable means for moving said dog out of engagement with said rod againstthe action of said yieldable means, a latch for controlling the operation of said manually operable means, electromagnetic means for actuating said latch to release said manually operable means, means actuated by said yieldable means for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means, and other manually operable means for rendering said lirst named manually operable means ineffective.

3. In combination, a rod movable with a railway traflic controlling apparatus, a looking dog for locking said rod against movement, yieldable means for maintaining said dog in locking engagement with said. rod, manually operable means for moving said dog out of engagement with said rod against the action of said yieldable means, a latch for controlling the operation of said manually operable means, electromagnetic means for actuating said latch to release said manually operable means, means actuated by said yieldable means for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means, and other manually operable means for rendering said yieldable means and said first mentioned manually operable means ineffective. 7

4t. In combination, a rod movable with a railway traliic controlling apparatus, a loci;- ing'dog adapted to engage said rod, manually operable means for moving said dog out of engagement with said rod, a latch for controlling the operation of said manually operable means, electromagnetic means for actuating said latch to release said manually operable means, a contact device for controlling the energization'ot said electromagnetic means, a spring for actuating said routact device, and manually operable means for releasably maintaining said locking dog in engagement with said rod iudepend of said latch and for rendering said sp inefiective.

5. In combination, a rod movable with a railway tral'lic controlling apparatus, a l. 7 ing dog mounted for engagement with said rod, a lever for moving said dog out of engagement with said rod, electroma netic means for controlling; the operation or said lever, a contact device for controlling'the operation of said electromagnetic means, a spring for yieldably maintaining said dog in engagement with said rod and for. opererating said contact device, and manually operable means for controlling the opera tion of said lever and for rendering said yieldable means inetlective.

6. In combination, a rod movable with a railway trallic controlling apparatus, a locking dog, a lever for moving said dog to an ineffective position, a latch for controlling the operation of said lever, electromagnetic means for actuating said latch to release said lever, a contact device for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means, yieldable means operable in two directions for urging said dog toward its ellfective position and for closing said contactdevice, and manually operable means for releasably maintaining said yieldable means inell'ective with respect to said contact device.

7. A locking device for railway traliic controlling apparatus comprising means mounted for lockin engagement with :1 member movable with said apparatus, yieldable means for maintaining said locking means in its locking position, manually operable means for moving said locking means toward an unlocked position, latch mechanism for controlling the operation of said nanually operable means, electromagnetic means for controlling the operation of said latch mechanism, a contact device operated by said yieldable means for controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means, and othermanually operable means for control ling the operation of said contact device by said yieldable means and for controlling the operation of said first manually operable means jointly with said latch mechanism.

8. A locking device for railway traliic controlling apparatus comprising means mounted for locking engagement with a member movable with said apparatus, a spring for yieldably maintaining said locking means in its locking position, a pedal for moving said locking means toward an unlocked position, latch mechanism for controlling the operation of said pedal, electromagnetic means for controlling the operation of said latch mechanism, a contact device operated by said spring for controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means, and a manually operable lever for controlling the operation of said cont-act device by said spring and for controlling the operation of said pedal jointly with said latchmechanism.

9. A locking device for railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a dog mounted for locking engagement with a member movable with said apparatus, a pedal for moving said dog to an unlocked position, a latch for controlling the operation of said pedal, electromagnetic means for controlling the operation or" said latch, a contact device for controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means, cam mechanism for operating said contact device, a spring operable in one direction to oppose the operation of said pedal and in an opposite direction to actuate said cam, and a manually operable devicefor controlling the operation of said cam mechanism by said spring and the operation of said pedal jointly with said latch.

10. A locking device for railway tralfic controlling apparatus comprising a dog mounted for locking engagement with a member movable with said; apparatus, a pedal for moving said dog to an unlocked position, a latch for controlling the opera tion of said pedal, electromagnetic means for controlling the operatlon of said latch, a

7 contact device for controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means, cam mechanism for operating said contact device, a plunger for operating said cam mechanism and having an operative connection with said pedal,sa1dplunger having a pair of spaced opposed shoulders, a pair of spaced fixed abutments one adjacent each of said shoulders, members slidably mounted on said plunger for engagement with said shoulders and said abutments, a spring surrounding said plunger between said members, and manually operable means for releasably re taining said spring under compression between said members with one of said members in engagement withits adjacent shoulder and spaced from the adjacent abutment fIOIlIliJS ad acent shoulder; whereby when was andthe other of said members in-engaga ment with its adjacent abutment and spaced said retaining means is released said spring V will actuate said plunger to operatesaid cam mechanism rand thereafter yieldablv oppose the operation of said pedal; e

11. A'locking device' for railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a dog mounted for locking engagement with a,

switch lock rod, a pedal for moving said dog to an unlocked position, a latch'tor controlling the operation of said pedal, electromagneticmeans for controlling the operation of said latch, a contact device for controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means, cam'mechanism for operating'said contact device, a plunger for operating saidcam' mechanism andhaving an operative connec tion with said'pedal, said plunger having a pair of spaced opposed shoulders, a pair of spaced fixed abutments one adjacent each of said shoulders, members slidably mounted on adjacent abutment and spaced from its adj acent shoulder ,said retaining means when released permitting said spring to actuate said plunger to operate said cam mechanism and thereafter yieldably oppose the operatlon of ingsaidplunger to maintainsaid pedal in the pos tion to. which it was moved against the action of said spring when actuatedtodisen gagesa d dog from said switch lock rod.

r 12, j A locking device for railway traflic" controlling apparatus comprising a dog netic means for controlling the operation of saidlatclna contact device for controlling the operation of saidelectromagnetic means; cam

mechanism for operating said contact device, a plunger for operating said cam" mechanism and having an operative connection with said "saidpedaldand-a detent for releasab-lyengag mounted for locking engagement with .a swi'tch lockrod, ajpedal formoving said dog toanwunlocked position, a latch for controllingthe .operationof said pedal, electromag pedal, said plunger having a pair ofspaced 1 p d ou de at p jofs aced can t one adjacent each of said shoulders, members slidably mounted on said plunger for engagement with said shoulders r and said abutments, a spring surrounding said plunger between said members, manuallvoperable means for releasably retainingsaid p j e0 spring under compression between said mem f bers with oneof said members in engagement 7 with the adj acentshoulders and spaced from the adj acenti abutment and the other of said members in engagement with its adjacent abutment and spacedfrom its adjacent shoulder said retainingmeans when released permitting said spring to actuate said plunger yi'eldab-ly oppose the operation of said pedal,

a detent for releasably engaging said plunger tomaintain said pedal in the position to which it is moved against the action of said spring, and means carried by said manually operable means fordisengaging said detent from said plunger when said manually on erable means is returnedto its retaining position.

13. A locking device for railway traffic v 1 10 i controlling apparatus comprising a dog mounted for locking engagement witha member movable with said apparatus, a pedal for moving said dogto an unlocked position, a latch for controllinglthe operation of said pedal, electromagnetic means for controlling the operation of said latch, a contact device to operate said cam mechanism and thereafter for controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means, cam mechanism for, opera ating said contact device, a spring operable 111 one dlrectlonto oppose the operationo'f said, pedal and in an opposite direction to actuate said cam, a manually operable device,

for controlling the operation of said cam mechanism by said spring and the operation of said pedal, and second contact device operated by said electromagnetic means for indicatingthe condition of said locking de vice. a

14. A locking device for railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a dog mounted for locking engagement with a member movable with said apparatus, a pedal for moving said dog to an unlocked position, a latch for controlling the operation of said pedal, electromagnetic means for controlling the operation of said latch, a double acting contact device for controlling a plurality of electric circuits, one of said circuits controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means, cam mechanism for operating said contact device, a spring operable in one direction to oppose the operation of said pedal and in an opposite direction to actuate said cam, and a manually operable device for controlling the operation of said cam mechanism bysaid spring and the operation of said pedal. 7

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature. 7 EU lVILLIAM C. MolVHIRTER. 

